tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post1040881465002619280..comments2024-03-26T12:17:40.771-04:00Comments on Linda's Bees: Unnecessary Feeding of Bees in the Spring and the Backyard BeekeeperUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-76351465312808190272014-04-27T22:14:13.622-04:002014-04-27T22:14:13.622-04:00And if you've left enough honey on the hive go...And if you've left enough honey on the hive going into autumn/winter, you don't need to feed them then, either.Linda Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08089537760868691562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-31940948951976559962014-04-19T05:04:50.108-04:002014-04-19T05:04:50.108-04:00I keep bees in UK and totally agree. The time to f...I keep bees in UK and totally agree. The time to feed the bees is in the autumn. I feed them enough to see them through the winter and then to build up in the spring. Peter and Judyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17927142044372294713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-38512892393171053542014-03-17T11:07:10.655-04:002014-03-17T11:07:10.655-04:00I too believe your comments are totally correct fo...I too believe your comments are totally correct for the backyard beekeeper. <br />We backyard/hobby beeks need to evaluate very carefully anything said about beekeeping from a commercial beekeeper standpoint.<br />Sugar syrup is bad enough, but sometime necessary; but the use of high fructose corn syrup is just plain crazy.d jonesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-1382353294204866762014-03-15T20:17:30.600-04:002014-03-15T20:17:30.600-04:00Parabéns pelo blog!
Sou criador de abelhas sem fe...Parabéns pelo blog!<br /><br />Sou criador de abelhas sem ferrão no Brasil,e acho muito interessante os assuntos ligados as abelhas em geral.<br /><br />Abraço!<br />Paulo Romero.<br />Meliponário Braz.<br />Brasil.Paulo Romero de Farias Neveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12070284856233677218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-86187366512645574202014-03-15T07:23:02.047-04:002014-03-15T07:23:02.047-04:00For you, Wester Wilson, the nectar flow begins in ...For you, Wester Wilson, the nectar flow begins in April. For us, the first nectar is available in March. I also think the bees are smart. Last year at this time, the hives were full of drones and we were getting swarm calls. This year there are drone cells but I haven't seen a drone yet. Some of my beekeeping friends have seen a few but not a lot. Swarm season will be later this year than it was last year. How can we presume to know what the bees instinctively know: when to build up the hive population?Linda Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08089537760868691562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-38904522687143262332014-03-15T05:39:05.963-04:002014-03-15T05:39:05.963-04:00Linda, you are absolutely right. If your bees are ...Linda, you are absolutely right. If your bees are feeding themselves, and if you have no reason to force reproduction rates, there is no reason to supplement them, particularly when they are even managing to put by honey stores. Much of the common wisdom in beekeeping comes to us from the commercial model, and is unsuited to the small holding/backyard beekeeper. Worse, it comes to us from pre-Varroa, pre-Nosema, pre-industrial agriculture and its industrial agri-spray regimes. In our club recently our state apiculturist reminded us that unless we are forcing colonies to meet pollination contracts, feeding pollen patties in our area is entirely unnecessary (our bees bring in pollen most of the year) and may be harmful (as commercially available pollens and pollen substitutes may be worse than no pollen at all). Up here on the 49th parallel, we have a long winter dearth when even thrifty bees can starve out by the return of the nectar flows, or in the late winter rains. So we feed when they are light, and when they may be able to reach a food source over the cluster (warmed by the cluster), but not beside the cluster, and when they need medication delivered via syrup. But once April arrives, the bees have plentiful field nectars to grow on. If you are not trying to boost colony populations to make splits and pollination contracts, the bees can manage quite well, and nectar is superior to syrup as a bee food. Feeding past that date increases your swarm risk.WesternWilsonhttp://planbeeproject.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-51349197903879333952014-03-14T22:39:34.300-04:002014-03-14T22:39:34.300-04:00Linda, Thank you for your concern over the bees. ...Linda, Thank you for your concern over the bees. You are the reason I am beekeeping now, as I was so discouraged over the traditional methods of beekeeping. You gave a refreshing different point of view and I was hooked. I agree with you about the beekeeping. There is even more reasons NOT to feed them unless they are completely depleted of stores and the weather is not permitting them to forage. In any case, sugar, or worse, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP should not be fed to bees, unless you are absolutely desperate. Feed Bee Tea and Honey. Thanks for bringing this issue to our attention.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17408419915057932465noreply@blogger.com